15 August 2014

Come Dine with Friends...

Don't you just love going round to a friend's house for dinner? Aside from the good company and flowing wine, it's always a bonus when they actually cook amazing food. So last weekend, round our friend's new and long awaited beautiful home, we were treated to a yummy feast of marinated lamb tossed with grilled asparagus, tomatoes and new potatoes. All gluten free I might add, which was followed by a delicious ginger cake with a dollop of creme fraiche...so good. But as we sat around the dinner table enjoying our hosts' yummy grub, I couldn't help but wonder what I was doing wrong when it came to my cooking? Some people make it look so damn easy and, as I see it, you've either got it or you haven't in the cooking department...

Mmmm...so good!

I've mentioned here, here, here, oh and here that I'm no domestic goddess in the kitchen and don't even get me started on my Delia disaster! Even following a recipe I always seem to find myself in a state of disarray with more food on my clothes and on the walls than in the pan, all the while having a major sweat attack. It's just not pleasant. However my friend made it all so seemingly effortless as she flitted between the kitchen and grilling asparagus on the BBQ (as you do). Not one swear word or bead of sweat in sight. How does she do it?

Spot the gluten free treat...!

As women, we have a really bad habit of comparing ourselves to others, without even realising it most of the time. Instead of praising my friend for her cooking talents, in an instance I'm flooded with an array of negative thoughts, all because her cooking is better than mine. What am I, five? But it doesn't stop there. I'm then thinking that it's because she's a good cook, that she has great skin and always looks so well. I'm then hating my face and the skin problems I'm always battling. Which then brings on the waves of self loathing and hatred that I have for my entire body. Then comes the reminder that I only exercised once that week so it's my own fault. Oh and throw in a cloud of guilt from that bag of M&M's I ate instead of a carrot and I'm left feeling generally pants about oneself. All that over a marinated leg of lamb. No wonder men think we're crazy.

We live in a society where there is an immense pressure to be perfect in every aspect of our lives that we forget to congratulate each other for our accomplishments, instead opting for envy and self-loathing for our weak spots. It's not humanly possible to get it right in everything. I mentioned here that I wasn't the competitive sort, but games aside, it turns out I am and from now on I'm going to make a conscious effort to be more positive in future as we each have our own good points that weigh out the bad.

Our Come Dine With Me plans...help!

Anyhoo...my little resolution is soon to be put to the test as during this particular dinner party, we did what any normal people do when we feel merry and inadequate about our own cooking abilities. We arranged our very own Come Dine with Me contest between the couples. Oh man...and to top it off, my old mate Pinot Grigio decides to get involved and I end up parping up with 'everyone has to plan some form of entertainment too!' Seriously Katie, know when to keep schtum in future.

Now not only have we, I (no doubt I'm going to get lumbered with cooking for this shindig) got to cook up a three course meal from scratch, but I've also got to throw in some sort of entertainment too. Brilliant. I wonder if mad-drunk-lady-crying-in-the-corner-with-food-in-her-hair counts as entertainment? There's a real possibility this could happen...wish me luck!

What are your weak spots where you compare yourself to friends?

Until next time,

With Love & Cooking Concerns,

Shortlisted for the Next Newcomer Award at this year's Cosmopolitan Blog Awards...Pretty Please Vote for Moi here!

Welcome

Hi I'm Katie...

A UK Lifestyle Blogger, wife to the Hubster, mummy to our Elsie Belle and Baby Number Two due 2017! Welcome to my little corner of cyber space where I share all the little (and big) things in our life. You can read more about moi here or contact me on katie.albury83@gmail.com.